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"Manchester City must start quickly out of the blocks for confidence-building form and the chance to sit top of the table early on. If City can reproduce the form of last winter, when goals were being fired in as if they were going out of fashion, all will be well in Manchester."

Then in June Toure's younger brother Ibrahim died after a battle with cancer. In the days that followed, Toure claimed he had been denied permission by the club to spend time with Ibrahim as his health deteriorated.

These matters led to considerable speculation that the Ivory Coast international could leave City, with Paris St German heavily linked, but last month he reiterated his commitment to the club.

Pellegrini said: "Really, I spoke with Yaya and he is very happy.

"I don't know what happened in the summer. Some people talked about his position, but really at this moment he doesn't have any problems. It has passed, it doesn't matter at this moment."

It has been suggested that some of the comments from agent Dimitri Seluk may have been in part a tactic to negotiate a new contract.

Yet Toure, 31, is just over a year into a four-year deal worth a reported £45 million.